Learn it! Speak it! Live it!
Bring Christmas to a child in need!
An 'urgency': Sensing threats to institutions of society, church leaders make declaration 
Click to Print
Include Comments
Election automatically improves environment?
At 538.com, analyst Nate Silver notes an interesting phenomenon: People seem to assume the environment has improved just because Obama took office. Silver looks at a Gallup poll that says 41 percent of Americans think the environment is getting better, up from 26 percent last year. Silver said he assumed the increase was driven by Republicans, but it’s not. It’s driven by Democrats and Independents.
In 2008:
In 2009:
Silver writes that any recent environmental action, if successful, “merely mean that the environment is getting worse less quickly, not that it’s actually improving.” He concludes, “There is the risk that Americans assume — by Obama’s mere presence in the White House — that more is being done to help the environment than actually is.”
back to top12 Comments to “Election automatically improves environment?”
Well, of course. Obama unequivocally informed us that the moment he was elected was the moment when the rise of the oceans would begin to slow and the planet would begin to heal. Obviously that must be happening. After all, we did elect him, you know.
Report comment to moderator
With support like this, who needs accomplishments?
Report comment to moderator
Well, this will be good news as I hear one in three children between 6 and 11 years of age think the earth will not survive long enough for them to grow up and enjoy as adults.
Report comment to moderator
This certainly has more to do with getting rid of GOP anti-environmental power than acquiring Obama. With Bush gone and no McCain to assume his Earth-hating mantle, the future looks a little brighter than it was before, even if that means a little less bleak.
Report comment to moderator
“This certainly has more to do with getting rid of GOP anti-environmental power than acquiring Obama.”
So your using the same logic, but a different point of reference?
Considering the polls..the republicans only swapped 3%. That doesnt justify your claim thats its an exiting of GOP power. Considering the GOP power pretty much left COngress 3 years ago, it only makes your logic even less rational as these polls were taken over the last 2 years.
In other words, its more likely that Obama is the contributing factor. However, whether its anti Bush or pro Obama, neither has done anything directly for the change in opinion.
Report comment to moderator
You’re not getting it: Obama’s Messianic Aura itself is making the environment better. The political environment is better, the economic environment is better, the atmospheric environment is better, the bio-scientific environment is better, …
I could go on, but you are probably starting to get my point. All kinds of “environments” are just “better” with Obama on his throne, er, in the White House.
Report comment to moderator
RonD–
I once helped to judge a junior-high essay writing contest & read numerous pieces in support of recycling, all by eighth graders worried they’ll not reached twenty.
Your post reminded me of this, and made me smile.
Report comment to moderator
I heard the same thing when I was a kid. The earth would be destroyed by the time I was 30. We are 23 years overdue.
Yes, I’m 53.
Report comment to moderator
KBells/Kimberly,
I remember the first “Earth Day”. At that time, we were told and completely believed that air/water pollution, toxic chemicals in every imaginable form/location and/or nuclear waste would surely bring about our demise inside a decade. That was 39 years ago and I think I’ve still got a button.
Report comment to moderator
This is all about fear-mongering for an election and it has little to nothing to do with science.
Report comment to moderator
O-bots are about style over substance. Actual environmental science is secondary to positive energy and feeling cleansed.
Report comment to moderator
I think the news coverage has contributed to the impression people have that the environment is in better shape with Pres. Obama in charge. With Pres. Bush, news was interpreted and “reported” with a disastrous spin, while with Pres. Obama, the news is “reported” with an optimistic spin–they’re much more effusive in their praise, and spend less time on the same old things they used to wave in front of us constantly during the former administration.
The facts haven’t changed–just the coverage. That’s the “change”, and the country seems to believe it.
Report comment to moderator
back to topJoin The Conversation
You need to be a registered user of WORLDonTheWeb.com to "join the conversation."
If you are not a member yet, what are you waiting for? Register / Login Now!